How Can You Not Love Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard?
Right let me start by stating that I get it if you’re a Rangers fan and you don’t like Odsonne Edouard, he’s your rivals star striker and he’s got a knack of scoring against you. The same goes for any other fan of another Scottish Premiership side.
This is directed at people who should know better. The pundits and former Celtic players that just can’t seem to get how good the Frenchman really is.
He’s now in his third year at Celtic Park and has scored forty-three goals in ninety-seven appearances for The Hoops.
Yet the likes of Charlie Nicholas and Craig Beattie have raised issues about the forward this season. Both are ridiculous, in my opinion.
Firstly Beattie stated Edouard wasn’t scoring enough against the smaller clubs:
“You look at the forward areas with Edouard, who is a top player. I feel he turns up as and when it suits him.”
“He has turned up in a couple of the Glasgow derbies, where he has been very impressive. He likes the big games, but that’s not enough at Celtic. You need to turn up all the time and, for me, I don’t think he does it and gets enough out of himself in the so-called smaller games to be the main striker at Celtic.”
Via Football Scotland
It was a bizarre statement to make. Firstly it’s a very good habit to have if you can influence the bigger encounters. Secondly, it isn’t actually true. Odsonne scored twenty-three times last term and has already scored nine this season and they can’t all be in important fixtures.
I bet the same people will have a pop at Gers striker Alfredo Morelos for not scoring in the big derby games. Proving that no hitman can win with these critics unless they score in every game, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can’t even manage that feat.
Then you’ve got another former Hoops forward in Nicholas finding something wrong with Edouard.
Charlie said:
“The thing that irritates me more than anything is his lack of celebration when he scores.
“It should be the greatest feeling in the world but Odsonne doesn’t show that.”
Via The Evening Times
What codswallop!
The most important thing about scoring is that you are indeed scoring. A celebration doesn’t matter. I would much prefer a prolific marksman that doesn’t go wild when celebrating rather than a striker that scores a goal every two months but rips his top off every time he hits the net.
Odsonne Edouard is a fantastic striker. He can come deep and hold onto the ball or drive towards the opposition’s penalty area. He can dribble expertly beyond defenders.
Odsonne can find himself out on a wing, freeing up space for others like James Forrest or Ryan Christie to move into. He’s also very neat with his passing, linking up well with those playing around him.
The twenty-one year old remains cool under pressure, which means he’s very efficient when it comes to finishing one-on-ones against goalkeepers. That’s why he’s so good in important clashes like derby games, cup finals and European ties.
Another positive is his instinct to take efforts first time. He doesn’t get scared in tight situations and will take shots on early, giving keepers little to no chance to settle themselves. He can grab tap-ins, curl in efforts and score with his head. He’s got so much in his game!
To think that a young striker like Odsonne has come to Scotland and become a star should be appreciated. People like Nicholas and Beattie need to stop nitpicking and applaud a forward that can score goals and shine with his build up play.
At least Celtic supporters can see what a player Eduoard is and show him love with an amazing chant!
It’s also important that Edouard has a manager that believes in him and he has that in Neil Lennon.
The time will come that Odsonne Eduoard will leave our shores and that’s when everyone will see just what a top performer he really is.
The French U21 striker will join a team in a top five league and will go for a £20+ fee.
Until then I will just enjoy him hitting various nets in Scotland and beyond.
Posted on October 5th, 2019 by scott
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